Would you allow someone to give your children counterfeits for Xmas?

[ChestnutsroastingintheFireligh]

I don't mean obvious Primarni copies of designs (the school arnt fussy about labels just style) - I mean actual items that are bought from a dodgy market stall/warehouse with fake labels etc

My feeling is that dd especially would be laughed at as she's gullible & wouldn't know the difference but her friends would.

The quality of the items (handbag & sports clothing) are very poor.

[THECliffRichardSucksEggsinHell]

Chestnuts they can take donated items, yes. They aren't selling for profit you see and it's nice to think that the counterfeit goods are actually helping to fund good causes. That's the best use I can think of them.

Everything funds terrorism. Haven't you heard?

[NoArmaniNoPunani]

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3744619.stm

[DirtyDancingCleanLiving]

I think you're being a bit ridiculous tbh.

Give your kids the choice. If they really are poor quality then it's not likely they'll be wearing them everyday.

A handbag can be used to keep things in at home - make up/toiletries etc. Sports clothing - just use it for messy play, muddy walks in the winter when it's hidden under a coat anyway, lounging around the house in.

I've had a couple of horrendous bits of clothing for the dc from my nan...they wear them if she comes to visit.

If they are really that awful then why bother with a charity shop? Not likely anyone else is going to want them.

Tbh I think you're just being a bit snobby about the fake brand aspect and has got bugger all to do with fraud/ethical clothing etc.

[DirtyDancingCleanLiving]

I'm actually more than a bit about the 'sit your kids down, explain why you can't possibly keep such awful items' attitude.

Teach your kids to say thank you nicely and encourage them to make use of what they've been given.

[MerryMarigold]

If you look hard enough there will be links somewhere. I wouldn't want to know what links the Bank of England has, but I bet they don't get publicised.

Interpol officials said they hoped publicity for the links between the counterfeit trade and terrorism would deter consumers from buying commonly-faked items such as cheap handbags.

I bet they do. The brands don't like it, and guess who has a lot of money and power.

[mrsjay]

NO fake good are usually a front for criminals workers are exploited animals are cruelly skinned alive for fake uggs, and it is illegal, I would rather my child didnt wear designer than fake and counterfiet

[ChestnutsroastingintheFireligh]

I am not at all snobby about designer items - I never buy designer - our clothes come from Asda usually. I SN concerned about justifying something which is illegal - ie trying to pass off something as something it isn't.

[mrsjay]

my sister unwittingly bought uggs that were fake they were confiscated at customs

[THECliffRichardSucksEggsinHell]

That link was from 2004.

DirtyDancing I'm the one who said sit the kids down and talk to them about what x cousin has bought, but I also said that the OP should ensure that they graciously thank the cousin.

It's not about being snobby. The OP is right, kids do seize any opportunity to tease, particularly if they have perceived those children to be 'different' already. As a child wearing fake goods you might as well just drape a sign around your neck saying 'Kick me whilst I'm down'.

The OP hasn't said that her children would only wear branded items. She was just concerned about the obvious fakes they have been bought.

I would still tell the kids about the gifts, tell them they should be gracious and write a thank you card and donate it to charity if they want to. If they want to wear it then so be it, good on them.

[overthemill]

We had a very kind gift from someone once (years ago) which was a pirate copy if the first Harry potter film. My DH was amazed that I couldn't let the kids watch it. I feel really strongly about it still. Such a kind thought but piracy is theft. I also feel weird about kids downloading music for free via YouTube as performers don't get royalties. Call me old fashioned...

[DialsMavis]

I probably wouldn't let them wear obvious fakes, the ones from Hong Kong that I turn a Blind eye to are faultless

[GhostsInSnow]

I saw the worst fake Radley bag I have ever seen in my life in a charity shop locally a few months ago. From it's £2.50 price tag they must have known it was fake so I was a bit surprised to see it on the shelf.

Every street stall in Egypt (Sharm) is heaving with fakes, everything from GHD's to Converse. I bought some GHD's the first time I went about 5 years ago, they cost me £15. They are still the best set of hair straighteners I have ever owned. I've also had fake converse from the markets there too and they have lasted just as well. The locals make a fortune from the tourists because everywhere you look in Sharm people are dripping in fake watches and wearing cons

DH's mate used to go to Thailand a lot and he'd always bring him back a rolex or a tag. DH is easily pleased.

[THECliffRichardSucksEggsinHell]

For those who say counterfeits fund terrorism, I hope you buy only ethically sourced products which don't rely on slave labour or dangerous working conditions. And I hope you didn't give to Comic Relief which kept a large portion of donations in a stakeholder fund which invested money in an arms company. I also hope you don't buy anything which contains Palm Oil or buy any petrol based products as these companies are also corrupt and often terrorise local communities.

The OP had these items given to her children as a gift, she didn't go out and buy them. What is she meant to do, shop her cousin for buying fake goods? If the police were that arsed they would clamp down on these temporary market stalls.

[cantheyseeme]

I would give them to dc's but tell them they are fake and let them make the decision what to do with them. nothing to do with ethics, but like other people have said kids can be cruel.

[SPsWantsCliffInHerStocking]

I personally wouldn't have an issue.

Juice A friends aunt went yo turkey and came back with fake Converse and Vans. You cant tell the difference at all.

[IceBeing]

ha ha ha...so the kids should thank the cousin for buying fraudulent stuff that could have been manufactured any where with no regard to safety or standards for workers?

Shit fake clothes have been responsible for horrible injuries when the not fit for purpose dyes leak out....

The kids should be writing a letter to the cousin explaining why their actions were so inappropriate...

[THECliffRichardSucksEggsinHell]

[cantheyseeme]

Because well known manufacturers in this country are SO ethical in regards to the production of their clothes

[cantheyseeme]

Also, teaching your kids to be ungrateful! If i had gifted something i would be horrified to recieve a letter telling me how wrong my actions were, i would never bother again.

[NoArmaniNoPunani]

hopes that IceBeing knows exactly where her shop bought clothes have come from and that her children's toys weren't made in China

Why do you think that because we have purchased products that might possibly have been made in unethical ways that that means we should accept products that were are 100% certain have been made in unethical ways?

[SomethingkindaOod]

The only thing I would have an issue with would be toys because of the safety aspect. As for clothes, even bad fakes have their uses for scruffy days!
I'll stop worrying about the ethics of counterfeit goods when major chains start worrying about their business practises..
DH has a lovely Rolex his boss brought him back from Singapore, when he went to the watch place to get the strap shortened the guy said 'well, it's a fake but it's the best one I've seen'

[DoesntLeftoverTurkeySoupDragOn]

As the items have already been bought and paid for and thus the terrorists already have their money then yes, I'd let the children have them but ensure they know they are fake so that they can laugh it off should anyone point it out.

[THECliffRichardSucksEggsinHell]

Because NoArmani of the assumption that ALL counterfeit goods are made in unethical ways as opposed to shop bought items. It is now incredibly difficult to buy clothing that has been 100% ethically sourced.

There is nothing to say that the OP's cousin bought the items knowing they were counterfeit, especially if he bought them for young children and doesn't have any of his own.

Some counterfeit goods are made in people's bedrooms anyway.

[THECliffRichardSucksEggsinHell]

And as many many posters on this thread have already stated, some families in places like Egypt make a living from selling counterfeit clothing. Would you really take away their only source of income because of some misplaced sense of moral duty?

[ChestnutsroastingintheFireligh]

He would have known - he makes regular trips to this warehouse.

He has children & grandchildren.